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Jimmy Graham flagged for dunk in Saints scrimmage

Nick Schwartz, USA TODAY Sports
Published 9:34 p.m. CT Aug. 2, 2014

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New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) dunks the ball over the goal post after scoring a touchdown during there NFL football training camp in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.(Photo: Chris Tilley, AP)

Tight end Jimmy Graham caught a touchdown from Luke McCown during a Saints scrimmage Saturday and celebrated with his signature dunk over the goalpost, but for the first time, he was nailed with a yellow flag.

The NFL announced in March that it would no longer allow players to dunk the ball over the goalpost, and would consider the celebration as using the football as a prop. Under the rules forbidding such an action, a player would earn a 15-yard penalty. NFL officials were at Saints camp in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to call the game, and fans booed when Graham was flagged Saturday.

NFL referee Gene Steratore told The New Orleans Advocate that even if Graham would have done a layup instead of a dunk, he still would have been flagged.

"If there's any actions that are provoking or feel like they are demeaning to an opponent, then that's our obligation I think to the (NFL) shield to keep it out," he said.